Thermostat



May 13, 1930. J. L. BREESE, JR 1,757,951

THERMOSTAT Filed April 21, 1928 vide a thermostat whic Patented May` 13, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFl-CE vJ'AIMIES L. IBREESE, JR., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO OIL DEVICES CORIPORA- TION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS THERMOSTAT Application led April 21,

My invention relates to an improvement in thermostats and particularly to a thermostat adapted for use with domestic house heating plants. One object of m invention is to proli shall be sensitive to small temperature iiuctuations. Another object is the provision of a thermostat in which means are provided for raising the temperature of the thermostat,'independently of the room temperature. Another object is the provision of means for causing or enabling a thermostat to operate at a temperature dierent from that at which it normally operates, without changing the setting of the thermostat.` Another object is the provision of means for actuating the'thermostatic control in response to temperature changes of less than the normal differentiation. A11- other object is the provision of a thermostat particularly operable for use with a synehronous motor electric clock. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of one form of my invention; and

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of a variant form of my invention.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawin s.'

Referring to Figure 1 A generally lndicates a translating device comprising a motor mounted on any suitable base A1 adapted to operate any suitable blowing mechanism whereby, along the conduit A2 air may be delivered to a furnace diagrammatically illustrated as at A3. The supply of oil or other fuel is not indicated herein but it will be understood that fuel is also delivered along the conduit A2 by any suitable device for combustion within the furnace A3. Although the details are not shown it will be understood that in the form of my device herein described and claimed the supply of fuel as well as air may be made responsive to the actuation of the motor A.

B B1 indicate the wires of the usual house lighting circuit, The motor is put in circuitv 1928. Serial N0. 271,746.

with the house lines for example by the conductor B2 extending from the line B1 to the terminal B3, the conductor B4 extending from the motor terminal B5 to the switch B6 and the conductor B7 extending from the switch to the lineB. The switch is normally withdrawn from the conductor B7 as for example by the spring B8. f

generally indicates a transformer of which the primary C1 is in circuit with the lines B and B1. The secondary C2 is in circuit, as by the line C3 C4 with the electro-magnet C5 which serves to move the switch B, against the spring B8 into contact with the conductor B1, to close the motorcircuit.

Shunted across the line C3 C4 is any suitable resistance heating element herein shown as an incandescent light bulb D with the usual filament therein. When the circuit through the line C3 C is closed the bulb is actuated and serves to heat the thermostatic member generally indicated as D1 which includes a spiral portion D2 and an upwardly extending vertical portion D1.

Pivoted adjacent the free upper end of this vertical portion is a mercury tube D1 from which project downwardly beneath its pivot the arms D5 which surround the upper end D3 of the thermostatic member. It will be understood that in4 response to the flexion of the portion Ds to the right or to the left the mercury tube Dl1 will be tilted about its axis. Mounted in the mercur tube are two contact members De which 'are interposed in the lines C8. It will be'understood that when the tube is tilted in the position in which it is shown in Figure 1 the mercury in the tube provides the conducting connection between the contacts D6 and thus closes the circuit through the lines C3 and C". On the contrary, when the member D8V is iiexed to the left the tube is so tilted as to withdraw the mercury from the contacts D and the circuit through the lines Cs and C4 is broken. p

It will be understood that when the secondary circuit above described is closed the electric light bulb D-is illuminated and the electro-magnet Cls is actuated. Accordin ly the motor rotates and delivers air and uel to the furnace and at the same time the therinostatic member D3 is subjected to the heat of the electric globe.

Referring to Figure 2 the conductor E extends from one motor terminal E1 to the line B1.l From the other terminal, E2, the conductor E3 extends directly to the thermostatic member D1, to the coil portion D2 thereof. E4 indicates a terminal opposed to the upward yextension D3 of the thermostatic leaf, the terminal E4 being connected by the conductor E5 with the line B.

I illustrate diagrammatically the use, as a control means, of a synchronous motor clock, the details of which clock do not of themselves form part of the present invention and are therefore not illustrated herein. I may employ any suitable type of clock but I prefer to employ a synchronous motor clockof the type which is provided with a rotor which rotates in synchronism with the controlling rotor, inA response to the alternatingcurrent cycle. It will be understood that G and G1 indicate two concentric shafts adapted torotate the hands G2 G3 of the clock, the two shafts being insulated from each other in any suitable way. G4 diagrammaticall indicates the field of the motor, it being in clrcuit with the lines B, B1 of the electric lighting circuit. G5 indicates a secondary winding around the field coil. Ge indicates a conductive segment connected with the coil G5 by the conductor G7. Gs is a conductor extending from the coil G5 to the resistance element G9 adjacent the thermostatic leaf D1. The circuit is completed by the conductor G10 extending from the resistance G9 to the hour hand G2.

While the control mechanism herein described might be widely varied without departing from the spirit of my invention I have illustrated a clock wherein'the contact of the hour hand G2 with the conductive segment G6 actuates the resistance G2, by closing the secondary circuit thereto. During the time that the hour hand G2 overlies the conductive element G6 the resistance G9 will be continually actuated and the thermostatic member Dl'will respond to its'heat.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the sprit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to my specific showing.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

A prime object of my invention is to provide a thermostatic control which shall be responsivey to relatively small uctuations of temperature. In the thermostatic leaves commonly used it is difficult to obtain a re- I may apply a sponse from the leaves sufficient to make or break an actuating circuit except upon temperature rises or temperature drops of several degrees. I therefore provide supplemental means of supply-heat to a thermostatic element which will raise it close to the critical temperature. Thus a relatively small increase in the temperature of the room, to which the thermostatic member is responsive, when taken in connection withthe constant supplemental heating of the bulb D for ex-y ample or the resistance G", is sufficient to' cause a thermostatic leaf to break the actuating circuit and to terminate for the time being the operation of the motor. Supposing that a thermostat is set to operate within four degrees, say to break a circuit at 74 degrees and to close it again at 70, I may em- `ploy a small electric light bulb, say six vol/ts, or a small resistance, which may raise the atmosphere about the thermostatic leaf by for example, 31/2 degrees: Assuming that the thermostat is operative when the temperature drops to 7 0 degrees and that the circuit has been closed, upon such operation, and that the motor is delivering air and fuel to the heating plant, and the temperature has begun to rise, with a lag of four degrees in the thermostat, the motor will normally continue to operate until the house temperature reaches 74 degrees.v However if, upon the closing of the motor actuating circuit, I automatically close a secondary circuit through the bulb D or the resistance element G9, as may be the case, then this supplemental heating means has the same effect on the thermostatic member as if the house temperature had gone up to 731/2 degrees.

Therefore a further increase of the house temperature to 701%, degrees, when -taken in connection with the supplemental heating effeet of the bulb or-resistance, is sufficient to cause the thermostatic leaf to break the actuating circuit and to shut off the motor. The thermostat, if then at 701/2 degrees, instead of at 74 degrees as would otherwise be the case, will operate to close the actuatincf circuit again when the room temperature drops l a degree. The above figures have been given merely illustratively, and it will be understood that the differential may be made more or less than 1X2 a degree and that the control may be made as close as desired.

Referring morel particularly to Figure 2,

time control to the supplemental heating arrangement above described in order to cause the thermostat to operate to a different temperature range at night than in day time. As differentiation between the form of Figures 1 and 2 it will be observed that the purpose of the ent from the purpose of the bulb D, since in the case of Figure 2 the purpose of the supplemental heating arrangement is to operate resistance G9 is differ- Y one resistance to obtain the close control effeet and by employing another with its time control, to supply the greater degree of supplemental heat necessea-ry for stepping the entire thermostatic action down a predetermined number of degrees at night.

Referring to F igure 2 in detail the thermostatic member D1 is interposed in a primary circuit which includes the motor A and the thermostatic leaf and is in direct conductive communication With the lines B and B1.

Assuming that the thermostat is set to respond to a temperature of 70 degrees, that is to say, to close the motor circuit and actuate the circuit at 70 degrees, the provision of a resistance G9 obtains the same elfect, upon its actuation, as with'an increase say of ten degrees in the room temperature. Thus during the time that the resistance G9 is heated, the

v thermostatic leaf D will respond to a house temperature of degrees exactly as, in the day time, it responds to a room temperature of degrees. Whereas I have illustrated this time control of the resistance as in connection with an electric clock, and more particularly,in connection with a synchronous motor clock, it Will be understood that a Wide range of time indicating mechanisms, Whether clock Work or electric. could be employed to obtain the same result. The important feature is that a supplemental heating element is actuated in response to the clock, through a certain period of the day or` night, in order to effect a change in the response of the thermostatic member to the. room temperutures to which it is subjected.

I claim:

1. In a control device the combination with a circuit including a circuit making and breaking element responsive to temperature changes. of supplemental heating means adapted to affect the action of said temperature responsive element, said heating means including a resistance element and an actuating circuit therefor, a clock associated with the control device, and means for making and breaking the circuit for said resistanceelement in response to the actuation of the clock without affecting the continuity of the circuit Vincluding the temperature-responsive element.

2. In a control device, a thermostatic member, a circuit controlled thereby, such thermostatic member being responsive to the general temperature of the room or place in which it is located, andmeans for causing said thermostatic member to operate at a different temperature from that at which it normally operates, including supplemental heating means to Which said thermostatic ymember is subjected, and means for actuating said supplemental heating means during a predetermined part ofthe day Without affecting the continuity of the circuit controlled by the thermostatic member.

3. In a control device, a thermostatic member and a circuit controlled thereby, a clock, a. supplemental heating means adapted to affect the action of said thermostatic means and means, responsive to the actuation of said clock, for actuating said supplemental heating means Without affecting the continuity of the circuit controlled by the thermostatic member.

4. Ina control device, a thermosatic inember and a circuit controlled thereby, supplemental heating means adapted to affect the action of said thermostatic member and a circuit therefor in connection with a source of elect-ric power, a clock and means for making and breaking the circuit of said supplemental heat-ing means, responsive to actuation of said clock, the continuity" of the supplemental heating circuit. being unaffected by the operation of the thermostatic member.

5. In a control device, a circuit including a source of power, a translating device and a thermostatically controlled circuit maker and breaker for said circuit, supplemental heating means associated with said circuit maker and breaker and arranged to modify the normal operating characteristics thereof, and time controlled mechanism associated with the supplemental heating means and arranged to render the same active or dormant independently of the continuity of the circuit controlled .by the thermosatic circuit maker and breaker.

6. In a control device, an electric circuit vice and a temperature responsive circuit maker and breaker, supplemental heating means associated with the temperature responsive circuit maker and breaker and including an electrical resistance element and an energizing circuit therefor, said resistance being arranged to modify the normal operating characteristics of the temperature responsive circiut maker and breaker, and a time controlled switch mechanism for opening and closing Vthe energizing circuit of said resistance at predetermined times without regard to the condition of the circuit controlled by p said temperature responsive circuit maker and breaker.

7. In a control device, a circuit including a source of power, a translating device and temperature responsive means for controlling said circuit, heating means including an electrical resistance associated with the control device and arranged to modify the operating characteristic of said temperature reand (1e-energizing the resistance including connections for insuring the continued normal operation of the temperature responsive circuit controller in the event of rupture of the resistance element.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 18th day of A ril, 1928.

JAMES L. BREE E, JR. 

